overlook
1 of 2verb
over·look ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k 
overlooked; overlooking; overlooks
transitive verb
1
: to look over : inspect
took down a map and overlooked it
Eileen Duggan
Eileen Duggan2
a
: to look down upon from above
do not like living near water, and prefer not to be overlooked G. W. B. Huntingford
G. W. B. Huntingford b
: to rise above or afford a view of
the mountains that overlook the village
3
a
: to look past : miss
whose sharpened senses overlook nothing Richard Semon
Richard Semon b
: ignore sense 1
learned to overlook her boyfriend's minor faults
c
: excuse sense 2
minor misdemeanors may sometimes be overlooked Punch
Punch4
: superintend, oversee
The chaperones will overlook the students' behavior on the field trip.
5
: to look on with the evil eye : bewitch
a baby that has been overlooked will begin to pine away F. G. Cassidy
F. G. Cassidyoverlook
2 of 2noun
over·look ˈō-vər-ˌlu̇k
: a place from which one may look down on a scene below
plenty of overlooks and trails Thelma H. Bell
Thelma H. Bell
Synonyms
Verb
- command
- dominate
Noun
- lookout
- observatory
- outlook
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The detective overlooked an important clue. Such a crime should not be overlooked. The quarterback was overlooked by other teams. the mountains that overlook the village We rented a suite that overlooks the lake. Noun just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below See More
Recent Examples on the Web Robert Powell, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 Once easy to overlook because of their limited global footprints, these chains are becoming more widespread and attracting all types of travelers. Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2022 But such details may be easy to overlook in light of the extensive views of the Sea of Cortez that seem to extend off the infinity pool. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 May 2022 What does a story like this, and specifically about swipers running this visible yet secret economy, reveal about the parts of the city that are easy to overlook or miss completely? The New Yorker, 19 May 2022 Often that didn't mean large sweeping actions, but rather small acts — things are are easy to overlook but make a difference in a person's life. Cate Charron, The Indianapolis Star, 2 May 2022 Spotting between your period, which is easy to overlook. Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 18 Apr. 2022 Easy to overlook on the left: a man peering into a garbage can. Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 25 Mar. 2022 The five are easy to overlook because they’re overwhelmed by the beer stein, the ballerina, the porcelain pineapple and hundreds of other objects piled above and below them. Mary Carole Mccauley, baltimoresun.com, 13 Mar. 2022 Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2022 My final view of Redwood Canyon is from an overlook on the road. Kyle Dickman, Outside Online, 13 July 2022 The view from Jewell Hollow overlook is hard to beat. Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2022 No other details were released on how the man fell from the overlook. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 15 May 2022 From the overlook, follow the signs back to the Latigo Trail and swing back to the trailhead for a satisfying 2.7-mile loop. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2022 These can be seen via a helicopter tour, on a flight from Maui to Molokai, or from the overlook at Palaʻau State Park. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2021 In April, a Blue Ridge woman died after falling from an overlook in Tallulah Gorge. Caroline Silva, ajc, 31 Oct. 2021 And here are some fall color overlook places in four regions of the state if your family is up for a road trip. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
But the statement also includes items that are easy to overlook or misinterpret. Robert Powell, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 Once easy to overlook because of their limited global footprints, these chains are becoming more widespread and attracting all types of travelers. Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2022 But such details may be easy to overlook in light of the extensive views of the Sea of Cortez that seem to extend off the infinity pool. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 May 2022 What does a story like this, and specifically about swipers running this visible yet secret economy, reveal about the parts of the city that are easy to overlook or miss completely? The New Yorker, 19 May 2022 Often that didn't mean large sweeping actions, but rather small acts — things are are easy to overlook but make a difference in a person's life. Cate Charron, The Indianapolis Star, 2 May 2022 Spotting between your period, which is easy to overlook. Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 18 Apr. 2022 Easy to overlook on the left: a man peering into a garbage can. Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 25 Mar. 2022 The five are easy to overlook because they’re overwhelmed by the beer stein, the ballerina, the porcelain pineapple and hundreds of other objects piled above and below them. Mary Carole Mccauley, baltimoresun.com, 13 Mar. 2022 Noun
Watch the ducks race from the Ship Creek overlook to the Bait Shack, but don’t worry — winners don’t need to be present to win. Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2022 My final view of Redwood Canyon is from an overlook on the road. Kyle Dickman, Outside Online, 13 July 2022 The view from Jewell Hollow overlook is hard to beat. Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2022 No other details were released on how the man fell from the overlook. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 15 May 2022 From the overlook, follow the signs back to the Latigo Trail and swing back to the trailhead for a satisfying 2.7-mile loop. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2022 These can be seen via a helicopter tour, on a flight from Maui to Molokai, or from the overlook at Palaʻau State Park. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2021 In April, a Blue Ridge woman died after falling from an overlook in Tallulah Gorge. Caroline Silva, ajc, 31 Oct. 2021 And here are some fall color overlook places in four regions of the state if your family is up for a road trip. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1861, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
overlook
verb
over·look ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k
overlooked; overlooking
1
: to look down upon or provide a view of from above
The house overlooks a valley.
2
: to fail to see : miss
The detective overlooked an important clue.
3
: to pay no attention to : ignore
I'll overlook the mistake this time.
overlook 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to dominate
to look down on the fortress overlooks the city Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dominate
- face
- front
- command
2
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to you've overlooked your chores again this week Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignore
- forget
- neglect
- disregard
- miss
- bypass
- pass over
- slight
- omit
- reject
- overpass
- slur (over)
- fail
- disdain
- skimp
- scant
- shrug off
- pooh-pooh
- pooh
- scorn
- sluff (off)
- slough (off)
- brush (aside or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appreciate
- regard
- tend (to)
- attend (to)
- heed
- remember
- mind
- treasure
- value
- cultivate
- prize
- cherish
- foster
- observe
- follow
- notice
- watch
- nurse
- listen (to)
- nurture
- note
- mark
- pamper
- remark
3
as in to supervise
to be in charge of you'll be asked to overlook larger projects in the future Synonyms & Similar Words
- supervise
- oversee
- handle
- manage
- direct
- steer
- watch over
- command
- control
- run
- head
- order
- captain
- guide
- monitor
- show
- superintend
- boss
- ride herd on
- quarterback
- administer
- call the tune (for)
- rule
- call the shots (of)
- shepherd
- govern
- preside (over)
- reign
4
as in to possess
to cast a spell on the superstitious grandmother actually believed that the baby had been overlooked by a gypsy woman Synonyms & Similar Words
- possess
- tempt
- spell
- seduce
- curse
- charm
- bewitch
- enchant
- strike
- attract
- ensorcel
- ensorcell
- hex
- lure
- entice
- captivate
- jinx
- mesmerize
- fascinate
- beguile
- voodoo
- spellbind
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bless
5
as in to examine
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) quickly overlooked the table of used books to see if there was anything of value Synonyms & Similar Words
- examine
- scan
- review
- inspect
- view
- survey
- scrutinize
- analyze
- watch
- audit
- oversee
- con
- notice
- explore
- investigate
- go over
- dissect
- peruse
- observe
- study
- check (out)
- parse
- classify
- categorize
- research
- plumb
- comb
- pore (over)
- pick over
- probe
- resurvey
- reinspect
- delve (into)
- rereview
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- skim
- glance (at or over)
6
as in to forgive
to dismiss as of little importance definitely not the kind of spouse to overlook even a single instance of marital infidelity Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignore
- forgive
- disregard
- justify
- explain
- excuse
- pardon
- discount
- condone
- pass over
- whitewash
- paper over
- shrug off
- overpass
- remit
- rationalize
- forgive and forget
- gloss (over)
- gloze (over)
- blink (at)
- brush (aside or off)
- absolve
- wink (at)
- exonerate
- exculpate
- waive
- vindicate
- close one's eyes to
- acquit
- clear
- wave (aside or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- note
- mark
- heed
- mind
- object (to)
7
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about the engineer hired to overlook the construction of the canal Synonyms & Similar Words
- manage
- supervise
- oversee
- operate
- handle
- control
- tend
- regulate
- conduct
- run
- govern
- direct
- keep
- guide
- carry on
- watch over
- protect
- administer
- steward
- watch
- superintend
- lead
- administrate
- steer
- preside (over)
- guard
- safeguard
- mind
- pilot
- micromanage
- care (for)
- comanage
- codirect
- stage-manage
overlook
2 of 2noun
as in lookout
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below Synonyms & Similar Words
- lookout
- observatory
- tower
- outlook
- watchtower
- crow's nest
- promontory
- aerie
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of overlook are disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.
in my rush I overlooked a key example
While in some cases nearly identical to overlook, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.
disregarded the wishes of his family
While the synonyms forget and overlook are close in meaning, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.
forget what others say
The words ignore and overlook can be used in similar contexts, but ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.
ignored the snide remark
The words neglect and overlook are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.
habitually neglected his studies
In some situations, the words slight and overlook are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.
slighted several major authors in her survey